Suchergebnisse

Just as Edward Tanjore Corwin was the principal historian of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) during the nineteenth century, Donald J. Bruggink is its principal historian in the twentieth century. Corwin made his contribution by producing four editions of the Manual of the Reformed Church in America, a mother lode of Reformed Church history, and A Digest of Constitutional and Synodical Legislation of the Reformed Church in America, an invaluable source on the work of the General Synod. Bruggink made his noteworthy contribution by founding and editing the Historical Series of the RCA and bringing forth thirty volumes between 1967 and 1999. The impact of Corwin's work can be readily attested to; we must now take note of the impact and success of Bruggink's prodigious labors as general editor of the series which have contributed so much to a better understanding of many segments of RCA history.

Focus on the Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Roman Catholic churches, as well as Afro-Brazilian spiritism, in Latin America today; 7 articles. Topics include the Comunidades Eclesiais de Base (CEBs) in Brazil and why the women activists who worked in them have now withdrawn from politics, participation in religious and social life in war-torn areas of El Salvador, political participation of Evangelicals in Peru, and perceptions of the identity of a Peruvian Catholic religious brotherhood in Paterson, New Jersey, US.

What is the distinctive trait of the Latin American pattern of modernization? In contrast to Western societies, where the debate on modernization has been dominated by the Weberian thematic of bureaucratization, the most salient feature of the Latin American developmental path is the chronic frailty of legal-constitutional arrangements. In Latin America, the process of modernization & social differentiation has not been followed by the legal stabilization of social complexity, but is characterized by a low degree of juridification & institutional precariousness. Drawing on theoretical insights from both Niklas Luhmann & Jurgen Habermas, a critical theoretical framework is offered for the study of the peculiarities of the Latin American modernizing path. 58 References. Adapted from the source document.

An introduction to a special journal issue maintains that the historical evolution of markets in Latin America demonstrates the complex nature of the process, the role of state actors, & sites of both economic & noneconomic conflicts. Classical, neoclassical, anthropological, & developmental perspectives of the processes of market formation are described. Examination of development policy, the banking system, land/labor laws, & the moral economy of consumers exposes the symbiotic relationship between the market & the state, as well as between the public & private spheres, & reveals the influence of cultural values on market development. Also investigated is how humans deal with markets across time & space in Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, & Nicaragua, demonstrating how responses differ in light of varied traditions, political struggles, & geography. These essays question some of the central tenets of neoclassical liberalism & open up new fields of inquiry in areas usually reserved for economics. 33 References. J. Lindroth

THE VIGOROUS REACTIVATION OF RELIGION IN LATIN AMERICA IS CLOSELY TIED TO THE CURRENT WAVE OF DEMOCRATIZATION THERE. IN THE 1980'S THE INCREASED CIVIL LIBERTIES THAT ACCOMPANIED THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY FACILITATED A DRAMATIC PERIOD OF RELIGIOUS INNOVATION. THE NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS THAT APPEARED DURING THAT ERA ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO PUSH FOR INCREASED CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE ERA OF DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION.

Analyzes globalization's impact on the political economy of Latin America, drawing on economic data & existing literature. Although Latin American nations have made significant contributions to the global economy, it is noted that indigence & increased economic inequality have grown in several of these countries; this economic contradiction is deemed the product of globalization's search for inexpensive & flexible labor to maximize profit. Though globalization's covert hegemony has accelerated economic inequality, it is contended that the global economy has encouraged social polarization in Latin American countries as well. It is asserted that Latin American nations' transformation from authoritarian regimes to democratic governments simply provided capitalist elite the opportunity to reconstitute state & business institutions behind the veneer of neoliberalism. The continued abuse of human rights under the neoliberal Latin American states is discussed. The emergence of counterhegemonic challenges to global capitalism, embodied in the social movements of environmental, women's, indigenous persons', students', & workers' organizations is studied. Four conditions required for a successful counterhegemonic movement are outlined (eg, the development of a socioeconomic alternative to neoliberalism). 6 Tables. J. W. Parker

THROUGHOUT THE 1980'S A "WASHINGTON CONSENSUS" THAT EMPHASIZED NEOLIBERAL, FREE-TRADE, AND "MARKET-FRIENDLY" POLICIES HELD SWAY IN LATIN AMERICA. EVEN UNTIL LATE 1997 THE WASHINGTON CONSENSUS RULED, UNDETERRED BY EITHER THE GRIPPING CRISIS THAT FLATTENED MEXICO IN 1995-96 OR THE ACCUMULATION OF THE SOCIAL COSTS OF THE GREAT NEOLIBERAL EXPERIMENT. HOWEVER, BY MID-1998, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE, AND MEXICO ALL FACED SERIOUS AND GROWING DEFICITS ON THEIR TRADE ACCOUNTS, FORCING THEM TO RAISE INTEREST RATES AND INDUCING AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. THE DEATH-RATTLE OF NEOLIBERALISM IS SOUNDING THROUGHOUT ALL OF LATIN AMERICA.

Explores how US economic expansion in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas could eventually lead to a free trade agreement with Central America; some focus on labor resources of Chiapas and natural resources of Tabasco.

THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT FOCUSING ON THE COALITIONS BETWEEN STATE ACTORS AND BUSINESS GROUPS THAT UNDERPIN STATE POLICIES OFFERS A FRAMEWORK THROUGH WHICH TO UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF NEOLIBERAL DEMOCRACIES IN LATIN AMERICA. THESE NEW POLICY COALITIONS CAN BE EITHER TRANSNATIONAL IN COMPOSITION OR CAN BE CONFINED TO DOMESTIC ACTORS. EXAMPLES ARE DRAWN FROM COSTA RICA AND CHILE; THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COSTA RICA'S TRANSNATIONAL POLICY COALITION AND CHILE'S NATIONAL-BASED COALITION ARE EXPLICITLY DRAWN OUT. THE PAPER CONCLUDES WITH OBSERVATIONS ABOUT HOW THE FORMATION OF A POLICY COALITION, TRANSNATIONAL OR NATIONALLY-BASED, LINKING THE STATE WITH BUSINESS, AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF DEMOCRACY.

Although most political party systems in Latin America have relatively few major parties, & in many case those parties fall relatively closely together ideologically, the countries of Latin America have consistently struggled with political instability. Here, it is argued that an important factor contributing to the varying stability of political party systems concerns how major parties compete. Party systems with a moderate level of competition, in which opposing parties have distinct positions, authentically attempt to defeat their opponents, but accept as legitimate an opposition win, tend to be the most stable. Party systems become relatively less stable with either more or less competition. Party systems with combative party relations, in which parties do not accept the right of the opposition to win, tend to be the most unstable, because the primary competitors may themselves be inclined to support the usurpation of democracy. However, party systems with collusive party relations, in which major parties cooperate closely through pacted or consociational arrangements, may also contribute to instability. These arrangements may initially facilitate democratization during transition periods, but over time the stagnating party system may fail to keep pace with a changing society. Limited opportunities for new political parties & a loss of representativeness by the older parties encourage the development of antisystem parties. 1 Table, 34 References. Adapted from the source document.

An analysis of Latin American populism reviews existing theories, suggests a new approach to its study, & examines the problems posed by the recent reemergence of populist leaders. It is argued that populism has consistently resulted from the failure of representative institutions to mediate between citizens & state, & populist movements have been characterized by appeals to el pueblo that spawned a unique version of democracy based on the election of national "saviors" without respect for democratic procedures & civil rights. Unlike Western nations where individuals have rights, Latin Americans gain access to state resources as privileges given to members of corporatist arrangements or clientelist networks, resulting in "delegative democracies" based on dependency, economic crises, & relations of domination & accommodation. Recently reestablished democracies in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, & Peru illustrate how personalized relations of domination link the state to its subjects, breeding clientelist political cultures. It is concluded that authoritarian populist politics will continue to surface in Latin America until these relations of domination are democratized. J. Lindroth

Critically overviews the discourse of mestizaje (interracial/-cultural mixing) in Latin America, drawing on an analysis of prominent social scientific writings & cultural criticism since the 19th century. It is shown that mestizaje originally was linked to a search for a distinctive Latin American culture separate from European values. In the period of nation-state formation of the early 20th century, it became associated with a typical national character, & came to function as a homogenizing cultural influence on societies that were, in reality, racially & culturally diverse. For most of the 20th century, intellectuals have employed the ideology of mestizaje to reaffirm & reestablish the distinctive national identities of individual nations in Latin America. Only recently has mestizaje come to play a role in the recognition of cultural plurality & serve as an important term in the formation of diaspora identity. It is concluded that postcolonial critics who have deployed the term in this new manner must not ignore that languages, like societies, have specific histories that must be deconstructed. 41 References. D. Ryfe

The current productive restructuring in Central America is creating significant changes in the region's labor markets. New sectors of tradeables are emerging, which, from the point of view of labor, cannot be characterized as formal. Indeed, formal employment is currently in a state of decline while the informal sector is redefining its internal heterogeneity. Focus here is on the new expressions of informality, with attention to three scenarios: the economy of poverty, subcontracting, & the agglomeration of small dynamic enterprises. Various analytical aspects are considered in each of these three scenarios: the context of the globalization process, the type of informality, the resources that are mobilized, the challenges faced, & the identities generated. The analysis is based on three case studies: (1) the pursuit of informal activities by former public employees of Managua (Nicaragua) in the aftermath of state reforms; (2) a group of women in the community of Puente Alto (Honduras) who work as subcontracted producers for an industrial export firm; & (3) the principal artisan center of Sarchi, Costa Rica. 2 Tables. Adapted from the source document.

NOW THAT CENTRAL AMERICA HAS EMERGED FROM A DECADE OF INTERNAL WARS, THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (IFI) ARE MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO INDUCE MODERNIZATION FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN THIS ESSAY, THE AUTHOR ASKS TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THE (IFI) ABLE TO FOSTER AND INFLUENCE INTERNAL SOCIO-HISTORICAL PROCESSES THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE TAKEN GENERATIONS TO UNFOLD AND IF THE PROJECT OF MODERNIZATION FROM THE OUTSIDE IS FEASIBLE OR DESIRABLE. SHE EXPLORES THE CONTRADICTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES IMPLICIT IN SUCH A PROJECT AND LOOKS CLOSELY AT THE RECENT INITIATIVES ARISING OUT OF THE PEACE ACCORD IN GUATEMALA. SHE ARGUES THAT THE MODERNIZATION IMPETUS REMAINS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC IN EL SALVADOR AND NICARAGUA DESPITE CONSIDERABLE IFI FUNDING, AND CIVIL SOCIETY DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENED IN THOSE COUNTRIES. HOWEVER, THE SYSTEMATIC IFI ATTENTION ON GUATEMALA HAS THE BENEFIT OF LEARNING FROM MISTAKES IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND IS ALSO OCCURRING AT A TIME WHEN THE IFI APPEAR, AT LEAST, TO BE MOVING BEYOND THE RHETORICAL NATURE OF THEIR EARLIER STATEMENTS.

In 1996 the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) launched a regional approach for disaster preparedness, focusing in its first phase on Central America, Caribbean and Southeast Asia (including Bangladesh). The first step in this process was the preparation of a «diagnostic study» that involved a situation review of the countries in these regions with regard to their vulnerabilities, disaster preparedness capacities and national plans or policies for disaster management.The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) served as ECHO's principal technical support with the collaboration of other institutions in Europe and the regions.The present «diagnostic report», covering Central America and the Caribbean, has been carried out by the Centre International pour la Formation et les Echanges en Géosciences (CIFEG) under the supervision of Professor Robert D'Ercole (Université de Savoie, Chambéry).Mr. Thierry Lesales (Université des Antilles et de la Guyane) participated closely in the drafting of this report and was actively involved in the field missions with Mr D'Ercole where they met and interviewed numerous national officials, non-governmental organisations and regional and international bodies. Further assistance was provided by Claudine Misson (CRED) for the interviews and information collected in the Dominican Republic. The report also draws from an earlier mission undertaken by Dr. Philippe Masure (BRGM, France), Christian Bugnion (CRED) and Alexandra Angulo (CRED) who undertook some of the preparatory work for the diagnostic study.This report presents an analysis of the disaster preparedness situation in Central America and the Caribbean and provides some preliminary recommendations regarding priorities and future programme direction. As such it remains primarily a descriptive study. It is expected to form the basis for the formulation of the ECHO Disaster Preparedness Action Plan. ; En 1996, la Oficina Humanitaria de la Comunidad Europea (ECHO) lanzó la iniciativa de un enfoque regional en materia de preparación a los desastres, concentrándose inicialmente en las regiones de América Central, Caribe y Asia del Sureste (incluyendo a Bangladesh). La primera fase de este proceso fue la preparación de un « diagnóstico» que implicaba un examen de la situación de los países de cada una de estas regiones en relación a la vulnerabilidad, la capacidad de preparación a los desastres y las políticas y planes nacionales en materia de gestión de desastres.El Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), de la Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), ha sido el principal apoyo técnico de ECHO para esta iniciativa, con la colaboración y asistencia de otras instituciones en Europa y en las regiones arriba mencionadasEl presente informe que cubre América Central y el Caribe, fue realizado por el International Centre for Training and Exchanges in Geosciences (CIFEG), bajo la dirección del Profesor Robert D'Ercole (Université de Savoie).Thierry Lesales (Université des Antilles et de la Guyane) participó de cerca a la realización de este documento y estuvo activamente implicado junto al Profesor D'Ercole en las misiones que se realizaron en varios países. En el curso de estas misiones, se entrevistaron con numerosos representantes de gobiernos nacionales, de ONGs y de organizaciones regionales e internacionales Se contó igualmente con la asistencia de Claudine Misson (CRED), quien realizó la misión en República Dominicana. El informe se basa igualmente en una misión anterior llevada a cabo por Philippe Masure (BRGM, France), Alexandra Angulo (CRED) y Christian Bugnion (CRED), la cual realizó parte del trabajo preparatorio para el diagnóstico.El informe presenta un análisis de la situación en América Central y el Caribe y provee recomendaciones preliminares para las prioridades y dirección del futuro programa. En el marco de la segunda fase, está destinado a servir de base para la formulación del Plan de Acción de Preparación a los Desastres de ECHO. ; Depuis 1994, ECHO (Office Humanitaire de la Commission Européenne, devenu le service de la Commission européenne à l'aide humanitaire et à la protection civile) a financé, à l'échelle mondiale, de nombreuses opérations pour la prévention et la préparation aux catastrophes (catastrophes naturelles principalement) Ces financements ont répondu aux demandes d'ONG et d'organisations internationales qui ont-elles-mêmes mis en oeuvre les projets correspondants. Les évaluations de ces opérations ont donné des appréciations positives. Cependant, ECHO souhaite s'impliquer davantage dans la prévention et la préparation aux catastrophes et mieux cibler ses actions pour une plus grande cohérence d'ensemble.Au cours de la réunion du 16 juillet 1996, le Comité d'Aide Humanitaire a approuvé la nouvelle approche régionale proposée par ECHO pour son programme de prévention, d'atténuation et de préparation aux catastrophes, le DIPECHO (Dlsaster Preparedness ECHO), pour la période 1996—1998. Ce programme doit s'appliquer dans un cadre régional en concentrant d'abord ses financements sur des plans d'action dans les Caraïbes, en Amérique Centrale, en Asie du Sud-Est et au Bangladesh. Par ailleurs, au lieu de répondre exclusivement aux demandes de financements spécifiques d'ONG, d'organisations internationales et de gouvernements, ECHO souhaite préparer des plans d'action et déterminer les partenaires les plus appropriés pour une mise en oeuvre dirigée par ECHO même. En outre, le DIPECHO a pour objet de rendre plus efficace l'action de l'ensemble de l'Union Européenne, par une étroite coordination de son action avec celles de la Commission et des Etats Membres. Il est enfin prévu de faire précéder la préparation des plans d'action par une phase de diagnostic au cours de laquelle seront identifiés, pour chaque région, les risques, les structures et politiques de prévention existantes aux niveaux communautaire, national et régional, ainsi que les appuis extérieurs en cours et à venir. L'objectif est non seulement de déterminer les lacunes, mais également d'évaluer la cohérence et l'efficacité des systèmes de réponse dans leur ensemble.Dans ce contexte, une première mission exploratoire a été réalisée du 30 septembre au 12 octobre 1996 dans les Caraïbes et l'Amérique Centrale (quatre pays visités) et a débouché sur un premier rapport (A. Angulo, Ch. Bugnion, Ph. Masure, "Rapport de mission exploratoire dans les Caraïbes ct en Amérique Centrale pour DIPECHO").Ce rapport apporte de nombreuses informations et en particulier:(1) il définit le cadre conceptuel, insistant, à juste titre, sur le fait que la prévention et la préparation doivent être distinguées de l'aide d'urgence et qu'elles font partie d'un processus continu au même titre que le développement ;(2) il présente les principales organisations régionales et internationales, et leurs activités dans le domaine de la prévention et de la préparation;(3) il met en évidence les grands types de besoins et fournit les premières orientations pour le programme DIPECHO.Le présent rapport, constituant le diagnostic proprement dit, fait suite à une deuxième série de missions effectuées dans la même région. Il vise à compléter les apports de la mission exploratoire, notamment par:(a) une analyse des catastrophes et de leurs conséquences:(b) une évaluation comparée des risques dans la région;(c) une analyse détaillée des réalisations et des besoins en matière de réduction des risques et des conséquences des catastrophes naturelles ;(d) un examen des conditions actuelles pour un programme DIPECHO cohérent, réalisable et efficace, avec, en particulier, la prise en compte de l'organisation actuelle de la prévention et de la préparation dans la région et un état des appuis extérieurs ;- des propositions de lignes d'actions prioritaires pour le DIPECHO.Le diagnostic s'est appuyé sur une importante documentation : travaux scientifiques, études et rapports recueillis auprès du CRED-Université Catholique de Louvain, du CIFEG, du DHA, de l'IDNDR, de divers organismes sur le terrain (notamment le centre de documentation de San José au Costa Rica), et d'universités européennes (Université de Savoie. Chambéry, Université de Lausanne). Mais ce sont avant tout les nombreux entretiens menés lors des missions (près de 200) qui ont donné corps au diagnostic.Treize pays Ont été visités entre le 22/01 et le 07/03/1997 :- République Dominicaine (C Misson);- Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua et Cuba (R. D'Ercole) ;- Antigua, Barbade, Haïti, Jamaïque, Ste-Lucie, St-Maarten, St-Vincent et le Guyana (Th. Lesales).Leur choix a été déterminé en concertation avec ECHO, le CRED-UCL et le CIFEG. Ils ne recouvrent pas l'ensemble des pays qu'il aurait été théoriquement possible de visiter. Cependant, le choix de pays-clés, les contacts établis avec de nombreux organismes de portée régionale et la documentation consultée, ont permis de bâtir un diagnostic d'ensemble.L'étude comporte trois parties.La 1e partie constitue une analyse des catastrophes en termes de bilan et de risque. Il s'agit, à l'aide de cartes, notamment, de montrer les effets des catastrophes naturelles en Amérique Centrale et dans les Caraïbes, de présenter la répartition et la fréquence des aléas naturels et de procéder à une analyse de critères de vulnérabilité. L'objectif est, enfin, de déterminer des niveaux de risque, à l'échelle de la région, compte tenu des dangers naturels et des critères de vulnérabilité.La 2° partie est l'étude des actions entreprises dans la région, ces dernières années, afin de réduire les risques et les conséquences des catastrophes. Cette étude permet de dégager des lacunes et des besoins. Les différentes composantes entrant dans le processus de réduction des catastrophes sont retenues : recherche scientifique et technique, prévention stricto sensu, préparation, information / formation. L'accent est également placé sur les modes actuels d'application des politiques de réduction des risques : de l'approche sectorielle à l'approche intégrée.La 3e partie traite des conditions actuelles pour la mise en oeuvre d'un programme DIPECHO cohérent et efficace. Quatre aspects fondamentaux sont analysés: les particularités régionales et nationales (l'hétérogénéité et ses conséquences); les faiblesses et qualités institutionnelles aux différents échelons géographiques: les caractéristiques des organismes susceptibles de contribuer à la mise en oeuvre du DIPECHO; le rôle actuel et en perspective de la Communauté Européenne et des Etats Membres.Chaque partie comporte une conclusion partielle La conclusion générale reprend les idées force des conclusions intermédiaires ct débouche sur des lignes d'actions prioritaires recommandées pour le DIPECHO.L'étude confiée au CIFEG par le CRED-UCL et ECHO a été coordonnée par Robert D'Ercole (Département de Géographie, Université de Savoie, Chambéry, France). Elle a bénéficié de la collaboration de Thierry Lesales (Département de Géographie, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Martinique, France) et de Patrick Pigeon (Département de Géographie, Université de Savoie, Chambéry, France). Ont également contribué à la réalisation de celle étude: Claudine Misson (CRED-UCL, Belgique), Jean-Claude Napias (CIFEG, directeur), Jacques Giri (CIFEG, président), Sylvie Orlyk (CIFEG, secrétariat).